Ignacio’s biggest challenge to the San Juan League crown appears a relative one after the Bobcats handled Mancos 71-50 on Friday night in Ignacio.
Junior Wyatt Hayes led IHS with 18 points, and senior Adison Jones picked up a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
“(Jones set the tone) by playing good defense on their big guy, by outrebounding him – that guy can jump out of the gym, and Addy put a little body on him, played great technique,” IHS head coach Chris Valdez said.
IHS (7-2, 3-0 SJL) scored the game’s first six points with its textbook ball and man movement.
Mancos couldn’t exploit its height advantage, and the Bobcats controlled the boards. They built a 29-10 lead in the second quarter and led 34-18 at halftime.
That lead allowed Valdez to start working his bench into the game.
Austin McCaw took the court first and made an immediate impact with two quick buckets. He finished with seven points.
“Just to play a role or make a good pass, whatever it takes to help the team,” McCaw, son of Ed and Kelly McCaw, said of his play. “It’s pretty important, especially if somebody gets in foul trouble, to go in there and not turn the ball over, just help out the team.”
McCaw hasn’t turned the ball over all season, Valdez said.
The game started to tighten up near the end of the third quarter, though.
When Mancos reached the foul bonus in the second half, the referees didn’t give Mancos the free throws with 1 minute, 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter. IHS coach Chris Valdez and those at the scorer’s table yelled to get their attention, and Valdez was given a technical.
Mancos’ Adrian Hernandez made 1-of-2 free throws, and Ro Paschal made 2-of-2 to pull the Bluejays within 12.
Hayes then made a 3 with 30 seconds left to put IHS up 51-37 after three quarters before running off the court, giving high-fives and shouting, “Let’s go.”
“It sounded like they were talking to us a little bit, and Wyatt came off the court saying, ‘we can’t let them talk to us like that,’” Valdez said. “When he says something, his team responds.”
IHS scored the first 10 points of the fourth to put the Bobcats up for good.
“We just got angry, and when we start playing angry – you saw what happened – we made all those 3s and went on a big run,” said Hayes, son of Cindy and Tim Hayes.
The Bobcats will return to the SunUte Community Center at 5 p.m. Saturday to face Telluride, currently second in the SJL standings at 2-0.
kgrabowski@durangohreald.com
